“If no help comes, drought will push Somalia/Somaliland further into chaos,children and women will be the worst affected”
Warns Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland
24th February 2015
Press Release for Immediate Release
Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland has warned the international community today that “if the needs of the people are not addressed during this severe drought, it will push them further into chaos, children and women will be the worst affected”.
More than half a million people are affected by drought in Puntland and Somaliland.
Hassan Noor Saadi, Country Director, Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland said that “water sources have dried up in many places, agricultural land resembles desert, many animals have died in parts of Somaliland and Puntland following the failure of the last two rainy seasons”. He further added “We are seeing the situation get worse by the day and we fear for the welfare and protection of the children”.
An estimated 510,000 people face acute water and pasture shortage in drought affected parts of Puntland and Somaliland. Out of this 510,000 people, 50 percent are children.
In Puntland, 215,000 people are affected by drought. In Somaliland 295,000 people are affected and the cereal production is 87% lower than the average of 2011 to 2014.
As water levels continue to deplete, the situation is expected to get even more worse in the coming months.
Save the Children is currently hopes to target 205, 000 people in Somaliland and Puntland, including 100,000 children, to provide relief from the drought. However, it is very concerned that lack of action by international community will cause loss of lives, livestock, push Somalia/Somaliland further into chaos and affect the progress achieved so far in both places.
Save the Children requests generous and immediate support from the international community to help provide water and sanitation, address food shortage, respond to malnutrition amongst children, provide emergency health care and psychological support to women and children in particular.
Notes:
- Critical water shortage in Puntland and Somaliland is due to prolonged drought conditions further aggravated by El-Nino effects.
- An estimated 510,000 people face acute water and pasture shortage in drought affected parts of Puntland and Somaliland
- In Puntland, 215,000 people are affected by drought
- In Somaliland 295,000 people are affected by drought
- Out of the total of 510,000 draught affected people in Puntland and Somaliland, 50 percent are children
- Over 304,700 children are acutely malnourished while more than 58,300 children are severely malnourished in Somalia/Somaliland.
- More than 70% of population does not have access to clean drinking water in Somalia/Somaliland.
- Fewer than 1 in 4 people have access to adequate sanitation facilities in Somalia/Somaliland
- In Puntland and Somaliland, water scarcity for animals has resulted in loss and reduced health of livestock, as well as declining milk production.
Contact for Media Enquiries:
Geeta Bandi-Phillips, Head of Advocacy, Media, communications and Campaigns for Nairobi Mobile +254(0)790406291. Email: stuthig@hotmail.com
Mowlid Mudan, National Communications and Media Coordinator for Puntland and Somaliland. Mobile +252 2 4470781. Email: mowlid.mudan@savethechildren.org
